CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules 211

CHAPTER > 09

Biomolecules
NEET KEY NOTES

Å Although living organisms show a significant diversity These are of following types
among themselves, but their chemical composition and the
Carbohydrates
metabolic reactions occurring in them are remarkably
similar.
Å Living organisms are made up of elements like carbon, Monosaccharides Oligosaccharides Polysaccharides
hydrogen, oxygen and several others.
Å All the carbon compounds that we get from living tissues
can be called as biomolecules.
Disaccharides Trisaccharides Tetrasaccharides
Å Living tissues also contain inorganic elements and (sucrose, maltose (raffinose) (stachyose)
compounds. If this tissue is fully burnt, all the carbon and lactose)
compounds will get oxidised to gaseous form (e.g. CO2 ,
Å Reducing sugars possess free aldehyde or ketone group and
water vapour) and are thus removed. The remaining is called
can reduce cupric ions of Benedict’s or Fehling’s solution to
‘ash’ which contains inorganic elements (like calcium,
cuprous ions, e.g. lactose.
magnesium, etc).
Å Non-reducing sugars do not possess free aldehyde or ketone
Å Water is the most abundant chemical, found in living
groups and cannot reduce cupric ions of Benedict’s or
organisms about 70-90% of total cellular mass.
Fehling’s solution to cuprous ions, e.g. sucrose.
Å The biomolecules are of two types, i.e. small micromolecules
with simple structures and large macromolecules with 2. Lipids
complex structures.
Å These are esters of fatty acids and alcohol, form 2% of the
cell contents. Important lipids are as follows
Biomicromolecules
Å These are with low molecular weight (18-800 Da), highly Lipids
soluble and have simple molecular conformation.
Å These include inorganic compounds, i.e. water, minerals and Simple Compound Derived
gases, as well as organic compounds, viz sugars
(monosaccharides and disaccharides), lipids, amino acids Hard fats
and nucleotides. Neutral or True fats Phospholipids Oils
Waxes Lipoproteins
1. Carbohydrates (Saccharides) Glycolipids
Å About 3% of the total cell content is made up of
carbohydrates. These are biomolecules consisting of C, H
and O atoms. Fatty Acids
Å The carbon forms chains or rings with two or more hydroxyl Å These are water insoluble long chain hydrocarbons (4-36
groups and an aldehyde or ketone group, forming aldoses or carbon long) with one carboxyl (—COOH) group. These are
ketoses. They have a general formula, C nH2 nOn. the simplest constituents of lipids.
212
Å There are two types of fatty acid chains as follows
n
Saturated fatty acids (C n H2 nO2 n) These do not
possess any double bond in their hydrocarbon chain
and are solid at room temperature. These have high
melting point, e.g. lauric acid (12 C), palmitic acid
(16 C), stearic acid (18 C), arachidic acid (20 C), etc.
n
Unsaturated fatty acids (C nH2 n − 2 xO2 ) These possess
one or more double bonds in their hydrocarbon chain
and are liquid at room temperature due to the
presence of double bond in them. These have low
melting points, e.g. oleic acid (18 C), linoleic acid
(18 C), etc.
3. Amino Acids
Å These are organic compounds containing an amino
group and an acidic group as a substituent on the same
carbon, i.e. the α carbon. Hence, they are called α-amino
acids.
Å They are substituted methanes. There are four
substituent groups occupying the four valency positions
→ hydrogen, carboxyl group, amino group and a
variable group designated as R group.
Based on the nature of R group, there are many amino
Å
acids. However, 20 amino acids occur in protein.
Å General formula is
NH2  CH  COOH
 in metabolic reactions.
R Å
Classification of Amino Acids
Amino acids can be classified as follows
Å On the basis of synthesis in living organism, amino
acids are classified into following three categories
n
Essential amino acids cannot be synthesised by any
organism in the body and are to be obtained from
dietary sources.
n
Non-essential amino acids can be synthesised by an
organism and thus, is not required as dietary
component.
n
Semi-essential amino acids required essentially by
an organism during particular phase of body growth
and lactation period (in pregnant mothers).
Å On the basis of chemical nature, amino acids are as
follows
n
Neutral (contains one amino group and one carboxyl
group), e.g. glycine (simple amino acid), alanine,
valine, leucine and isoleucine.
n
Acidic (contains additional carboxylic group), e.g.
aspartic acid, glutamic acid, aspargine and glutamine.
n
Basic (contains additional amino group), e.g. arginine
and lysine.
NEET KEY NOTES
Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )
Å On the basis of side chain, amino acids are of following
types
n
Sulphur containing, e.g. cysteine and methionine.
n
Alcoholic, e.g. threonine, tyrosine and serine.
n
Aromatic, e.g. phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine.
n
Heterocyclic, e.g. histidine, proline and tryptophan.
In a neutral solution, the amino acid molecules exist as a
dipolar zwitter ion, i.e. a molecule containing both positive
and negative ionic groups.
4. Nucleotides and Nucleosides
Å These are five types of nitrogenous bases, i.e. adenine,
guanine (both purines), cytosine, thymine and uracil
(pyrimidines). When these bases found attached to a sugar
they are called nucleosides. If a phosphate group is also
found esterified to the sugar they are called nucleotides.
Å Adenosine, guanosine, thymidine, uridine and cytidine are
nucleosides.
Å Adenylic acid, thymidylic acid, guanylic acid, uridylic acid
and cytidylic acid are nucleotides. Nucleic acids like DNA
and RNA consist of nucleotides only.
Primary and Secondary
Metabolites
Metabolites are organic biomolecules present in cells and used
Primary metabolites These are found in animal tissue and
are directly involved in normal growth, reproduction and
development of animals, e.g. amino acids, proteins, etc.
Å Secondary metabolites These are generally found in plant,
fungal and microbial cells as a byproduct of major metabolic
reactions, e.g. rubber, essential oils, antibiotics, etc. These
are ecologically important, but role or functions of all
secondary metabolites are not known yet.
Biomacromolecules
Å These are large in size with higher molecular weight, i.e.
above 10000 daltons.
Å These molecules (i.e. polymers) are formed by linking
number of micromolecules called monomers, e.g. proteins,
polysaccharides, nucleic acids and lipids (lipids are not
strictly macromolecules).
1. Proteins
Å These are polypeptides. These are long chain of amino acids
joined by peptide bond. Each protein is a heteropolymer of
amino acids.
Å In a polypeptide, the first amino acid is called as N-terminal
amino acid. The last amino acid is called the C-terminal
amino acid.
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules 213

Some Proteins and their Functions disulphide bonds, e.g. keratin, fibroin, collagen and
myosin.
Proteins Functions
n
Globular proteins In these, polypeptide chains are
Collagen Intercellular ground substance
coiled about themselves which result in a spherical
Trypsin Enzyme
molecule, e.g. enzymes, hormones such as insulin and
Insulin Hormone haemoglobin, etc.
Antibody Fight infections against Å On the basis of components of molecules, proteins are
Receptors Sensory reception (smell, taste, hormone, etc.) classified into following three classes
GLUT-4 Enables glucose transport into cells n
Simple proteins (made up of amino acids only), e.g.
Å Collagen is the most abundant protein in the animal collagen, albumin, etc.
world. n
Conjugated proteins (made up of protein molecules
Å Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase-Oxygenase joined to non-protein part), e.g. haemoglobin, casein,
(RuBisCO), is the most abundant protein in the whole of etc.
biosphere. n
Derived proteins (formed by partial breakdown of
natural proteins), e.g. peptones, insulin, fibrin, etc.
Structural Level of Proteins
There are four structural levels in proteins 2. Polysaccharides
Å Primary structure The sequence of amino acids, i.e. the Å Polysaccharides (Gr. Poly–many; saccharon–sugar) are
positional information in a protein, which is the first usually employed to polymers containing minimum of ten
amino acids, which is second and so on is called the monosaccharide units. Polysaccharides are of following
primary structure. two types
n
Protein is imagined as a line left end represented by the n
Homopolysaccharides or Homoglycans They have
first amino acid also called as N-terminal amino acid. only one type of monosaccharide units in them. Some of
n
Right end represented by last amino acid also called as the better known homoglycans are starch, cellulose,
C-terminal amino acid. chitin, etc.
n
A protein thread does not exist throughout as an
n
Heteropolysaccharides or Heteroglycans They have at
extended rigid rod. least two types of monosaccharide units in them, e.g.
chitin, pectin, peptidoglycan.
n
The thread is folded in the form of a helix.
Å Major polysaccharides are discussed below
n
Some portions are folded as helix.
n
Starch (C 6H10O5 ) n It is a polymer of D-glucopyranose
Å Secondary structure There are three types of secondary
units linked by α-1, 4-glycosidic linkages. It consists of a
structures, i.e. α-helix, β-pleated sheet and collagen helix.
mixture of amylose and amylopectin.
The turns of helices and sheets are attached by hydrogen
bond. n
Glycogen About 5000-15000 glucose units make up
glycogen (C 6H10O5 ) n.
Å Tertiary structure Long protein chain is folded upon itself
like a hollow woolen ball, giving rise to tertiary structure. n
Cellulose It is a linear polymer of β-D-glucose units
It is stabilised by several types of bonds, i.e. hydrogen connected through β -1, 4-glycosidic linkage.
bonds, ionic bonds, i.e. van der Waals interaction, covalent n
Chitin It is the second most abundant polysaccharide,
bonds and hydrophobic bonds. It gives 3 D conformation comprising of linear unbranched structural
to protein molecule. heteropolysaccharide of β-1,4-linked chains of
Å Quaternary structure Some proteins are an assembly of N-acetylglucosamine.
more than one polypeptide or subunits. The manner in
which these individuals folded polypeptides or sub-units 3. Nucleic Acids
are arranged with respect to each other is the architecture Å These are biomacromolecules and are polymeric
of protein, otherwise called quaternary structure of a compounds of nucleotides, i.e. polynucleotides.
protein.
Å A nucleic acid which contains deoxyribose sugar is DNA,
Classification of Proteins while that which contains ribose is called Ribonucleic Acid
Å On the basis of composition, proteins are classified into (RNA).
following two classes Å Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is right-handed double
n
Fibrous proteins formed when the polypeptide chains helix model (structure) of two parallel polynucleotide
run parallel and are held together by hydrogen and chains given by Watson and Crick having a major and

NEET KEY NOTES

214
minor groove.The outline of Watson and Crick model of
DNA is as follows
n
DNA molecule consists of two helically twisted strands
connected together by base pairs, which align
themselves in antiparallel or in opposite direction. A
DNA double helix is 20Å wide and its one complete
turn is 34Å wide, having 10 base pairs.
n
The two strands are interwined in a clockwise
direction, i.e. in the form of a right-handed helix and
have antiparallel arrangement.
n
Each strand consists of a backbone made up of
alternating deoxyribose sugar and phosphate. The
phosphate joins the two sugars through a
phosphodiester bond.
n
The nitrogenous bases are stacked inside the helix and
paired with the base of the opposite strand through
hydrogen bonds (H-bonds). There are two H-bonds
between A and T and three H-bonds between G and C.
Note The right-handed form of DNA is called B-DNA (found in
humans) and left-handed form is called Z-DNA (found in
nucleosome).
Å Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) The other nucleic acid present in
the cell is RNA, i.e. ribose nucleic acid.
Å It is mostly present in single-stranded form though some
viruses like retrovirus and wound tumour virus has
double-stranded RNA.
Å RNA can be of following three types
n
Messenger RNA or mRNA or template RNA
n
Ribosomal RNA or rRNA
n
Soluble-RNA or transfer-RNA (s or tRNA)
Nature of Bond Linking
Monomers in Polymer
The polymers are formed by combination of one or more
types of monomer units via bonds. These are
Å Peptide bonds These are formed when the carboxyl
(COOH) group of one amino acid reacts with the amino
(NH2 ) group of the next amino acid with the
elimination of a water moiety (the process is called
dehydration).
Å Glycosidic bond This bond ions carbon atoms of two
adjacent monosaccharides with the removal of water
molecule.
Å Phosphodiester bond In a nucleic acid, a phosphate
moiety links the 3′-carbon of one sugar of one nucleotide
to the 5′-carbon of the sugar of the succeeding nucleotide.
The bond between the phosphate and hydroxyl group of
sugar is an ester bond. As there is one such ester bond on
either sides, it is called phosphodiester bond.
NEET KEY NOTES
Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )
Concept of Metabolism
Å All biomolecules are constantly being changed into some
other biomolecules and also made from some other
biomolecules, known as turnover.
Å The making and breaking is through chemical reactions
constantly occurring in living organism. Together all these
chemical reactions are called metabolism, e.g. removal of
CO2 from amino acid forms amine.
Features of Metabolic Reactions
Å Each metabolic reaction results in the transformation of
biomolecules. Majority of these reactions do not occur in
isolation, but are linked to some other reaction and follows
a certain metabolic pathway. These pathways are either
linear or circular. They also criss-cross to each other, i.e.
there are traffic junctions.
Å An important feature of metabolic reactions is that they are
enzyme catalysed reactions.
These metabolic reactions can be categorised into two
types based on their metabolic pathways as follows
n
Anabolic pathway or biosynthetic pathway Formation
of complex structure from a simpler structure, e.g.
acetic acid becomes cholesterol.
n
Catabolic pathway Degradation of a complex structure
to form a simpler structure, e.g. glucose becomes lactic
acid in our skeletal muscles.
Å ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) Most important form of
energy currency in living systems is the bond energy in
ATP.
Enzymes
Almost all enzymes are proteins. Some nucleic acids that
Å
behave like enzymes are called ribozymes.
Å These are organic catalysts which catalyse biochemical
reactions without being utilised themselves.
Å An enzyme like any protein has the secondary and tertiary
structures. This tertiary structure has backbone of the
protein chain folded upon itself, also the chain criss-crosses
itself and hence, many crevices or pockets are made. One
such pocket is the active site.
Å An active site of an enzyme is a crevice or pocket into
which the substrate fits. Thus, enzymes through their
active site, catalyse reactions at a high rate.
Working of Enzymes
Å Substrate (S) Chemical which is converted into a product.
Å Enzyme, i.e. Proteins with three dimensional structures
including an active site convert a substrate ( S) into a
product ( P).
S→ P
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules 215

Å The substrate has to diffuse towards the ‘active site’. There is Å The catalytic cycle of an enzyme action can be described
thus, an obligatory formation of an ‘ES’ complex. This in the following steps
complex formation is a transient phenomenon. n
Substrate binds to the active sites of the enzyme.
Å During this state, a new structure of the substrate called n
Binding induces enzyme to alter its shape fitting
transition state structure is formed. more tightly around the substrate.
Å After bond making/breaking is completed, the product is n
Active site of enzyme breaks the chemical bonds of
released from the active site. the substrate and the new enzyme-product complex
Å There could be many more ‘altered structural states’ between is formed.
the stable substrate and the product. n
Enzyme releases products of the reaction and the free
enzyme is ready to bind to another molecule of the
Concept of Activation Energy substrate and run through the catalytic cycle once
Å Activation energy is the least possible energy required to again.
start a chemical reaction or the amount of energy available in
a chemical system for a reaction to take place. Factors Affecting Enzyme
Å It can be understood with the given graph as follows Activity
Y Transition state The activity of an enzyme can be affected by a change in
the conditions which can alter the tertiary structure of
Activation energy without enzyme the protein.
Å Substrate concentration Enzyme activity increases with
Potential energy

increase in concentration of the substrate to a maximum

Activation energy with enzyme and then its levels off.
Å Enzyme concentration In general, the rate of reaction
will increase with increasing enzyme concentration, due
Substrate (s)
to the availability of more active sites for reaction.
Å Temperature and pH In most of the enzymatic
reactions, rise of 10°C in the temperature doubles the
Product (P) rate of reaction between 5-40°C. Enzymes are denatured
X (secondary and above level of structures degraded) at
Progress of reaction
higher temperature due to their proteinaceous nature
and rate of reaction drops.
Y -axis = Potential energy
X-axis = Progression of the structural transformation or Enzyme Inhibition
states through transition state. Reduction or Stoppage of enzyme activity due to the
Å The features to notice certain adverse conditions or chemicals is called enzyme
n
If ‘P’ is at a lower level than ‘S’, the reaction is an inhibition and the chemicals which interfere or inhibit the
exothermic reaction (no supply of energy is needed to process are called inhibitor.
form the product). Enzyme inhibition can be of following types
n
The difference in average energy content of ‘S’ from that Å Competitive inhibition It is a reversible process due to
of the transition state is activation energy. the substrate or enzyme analogue in which K m increases,
but Vmax remains the same.
Nature of Enzyme Action
Å Non-competitive inhibition In this, inhibitor forms a
Å Each enzyme (E) has a substrate (S) binding site in its
complex with enzyme other than the active site and Vmax
molecule so that highly reactive enzyme-substrate complex
decreases.
(ES) is produced.
Å Feedback inhibition Where the end product or
E + S s ES → EP
Enzyme Substrate Enzyme - Enzyme - intermediates functions as temporary inhibitor which
Substrate Product combines with a regulatory site (also known as
complex complex allosteric site) of the enzyme and thus, functions as
→ E + P negative modulator. This is also called allosteric
Enzyme Product modulation.

NEET KEY NOTES

216 Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )

Ligases catalyse linking together of two compounds,

Classification and Nomenclature Å

e.g. enzymes which catalyse joining of C—O, C—S, C—N,

of Enzymes
Å Oxidoreductases/Dehydrogenases catalyse oxidoreduction
between two substrates, i.e. S and S′,
e.g. S (reduced) + S′ (oxidised) → S (oxidised) + S′ (reduced)
Å Transferases catalyse transfer of a group G (other than
hydrogen) between a pair of substrate S and S′, e.g.
S − G + S′ → S + S′ − G
Å Hydrolases catalyse hydrolysis of ester, ether peptide
glycosidic C—C, C—halide or P—N.
Å Lyases catalyse removal of groups from substrates
mechanisms other than hydrolysis leaving double bonds.
X Y
 
C  C → X − Y + C == C
Å Isomerases catalyse inter-conversion of optical, geometric or
positional isomers.
P—O, etc., bonds.
Cofactors
Å In some cases, non-protein constituents called cofactors are
bound to the enzyme to make enzyme catalytically active.
Å Protein portion of an enzyme is called apoenzyme.
Types of Cofactors
These are as follows:
Å Prosthetic group Organic compound, e.g. peroxidase and
catalase and haem is the prosthetic group.
Å Coenzymes Organic compound, but their association with
the apoenzyme is only transient usually occurring during the
course of catalysis, e.g. Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
(NAD and NADP).
Å Metal ions, e.g. zinc is a cofactor for the proteolytic enzyme
carboxypeptidase.

Mastering NCERT
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

TOPIC 1 ~ Biomicromolecules
1 After doing the chemical analysis of organic 5 Identify the term ‘ash’ in terms of living tissue sample
compounds found in living organisms, two fractions analysis from the statements given below.
were observed namely (a) Organic compounds oxidised to gaseous form (CO2 and
(a) acid soluble pool and acid insoluble pool water vapour) after burning of the tissue
(b) carbon pool and hydrogen pool (b) The material left after burning the tissue, which
(c) inorganic pool and organic pool contains inorganic elements such as calcium,
(d) aqueous pool and non-aqueous pool magnesium, etc
2 Choose the element, which is negligible in living (c) Compounds removed in the form of gases
matter. (d) Compounds which may be soluble in intracellular fluid
(a) Si (b) Mg (c) Ca (d) S 6 The sum total composition of acid soluble and acid
3 Grinding of a living tissue in trichloroacetic acid insoluble fraction represents the entire composition of
shows the presence of the inorganic compounds like (a) dead cells (b) gene pool
sulphate, phosphate, etc., which are categorised as (c) cellular pool (d) gene library
(a) acid insoluble fraction 7 Amino acids are organic compounds and are called
(b) acid soluble fraction α-amino acids. Why?
(c) not found in cellular pool (a) Amino acids are organic compounds containing an
(d) Both (a) and (b) amino group and acidic group as substituents on two
different carbons
4 Biomolecules are (b) Amino acids are organic compounds containing an
(a) inorganic materials amino group and an acidic group as substituents on the
(b) organic materials same carbon
(c) all the carbon compounds obtained from the living (c) Amino acids are inorganic compounds containing an
tissue amino group and acidic group as substituents on two
(d) only DNA and RNA different carbons
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules 217

(d) Amino acids are inorganic compounds containing an (a) A–Glycine, B–Serine, C–Alanine
amino group and acidic group as substituents on the (b) A–Alanine, B–Glycine, C–Serine
same carbon (c) A–Serine, B–Glycine, C–Alanine
8 Amino acids are substituted methanes. What are the (d) A–Serine, B–Alanine, C–Glycine
four substituent groups occupying the four valency 14 The aromatic amino acid (s) is/are
positions? (a) tyrosine (b) phenylalanine
(a) Hydrogen, carboxyl group, amino group and a variable (c) tryptophan (d) All of these
group (R)
(b) Two carboxyl groups, amino group and OH 15 Identify the zwitter ionic form in the given reversible
(c) Two hydrogen, one carboxyl group, amino group and a
reaction.
variable group (R) R
(d) Two amino groups, one hydrogen and one carboxyl 
group H +3 N  C H  COOH s
A
9 Variety of amino acids are formed on the basis of
R R
(a) position of hydroxyl group
(b) position of carboxyl group  
(c) position of hydrogen
H +3 N  C H  COO − s H 2 N  C H  COO −
(d) nature of R group B C
10 Types of amino acids found in proteins are Choose the correct option.
(a) 21 (b) 19 (a) A (b) C
(c) 20 (d) 23 (c) B (d) None of these
11 Based on the number of amino and carboxyl groups 16 A fatty acid has a carboxyl group attached to
amino acids are classified. Choose the correct option. R group. The R group could be a/an
(a) methyl
Acidic amino Basic amino Neutral amino
acid acid acid (b) ethyl
(a) Glutamic acid Lysine Valine (c) higher number of  CH2 groups (1 to 19 carbons)
(b) Lysine Valine Glutamic acid (d) All of the above
(c) Glutamic acid Valine Lysine 17 Arachidonic acid and palmitic acid have…… and
(d) Lysine Glutamic acid Valine …… carbon atoms, respectively including the
carboxyl carbon.
12 The amino acid, tryptophan is the precursor for the Complete the given statement by filling the most
synthesis of NEET 2016 appropriate option in the blank.
(a) thyroxine and triiodothyronine (a) 20, 16 (b) 22, 15
(b) oestrogen and progesterone
(c) 21, 4 (d) 23, 10
(c) cortisol and cortisone
(d) melatonin and serotonin 18 Identify the given structure and name the compound.
CH2OH
13 The R-group in proteinaceous amino acid makes them OHCH2 O
different. Name the amino acids A-C correctly O
according to the R groups given in each structure. OH OH
COOH COOH HO OH
  OH OH
OH
H  C NH2 H  C N H2 A B
 
CH 3 H (a) Ribose, Glucose
A B (b) Deoxyribose, Ribose
COOH (c) Glucose, Ribose
 (d) Ribose, Deoxyribose
H  C N H2 19 Saturated fatty acids possess ……… bond between
 carbon atoms and are ……… at room temperature.
CH 2  OH (a) single, solids (b) double, solids
C (c) single, liquids (d) double, liquids
218 Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )

20 Which of the following are not polymeric? NEET 2017 26 Identify, in which of the following carbon
(a) Nucleic acid (b) Proteins compounds, heterocyclic rings can be found?
(c) Polysaccharides (d) Lipids (a) Proteins (b) Amino acids
(c) Nitrogen bases (d) Lipids
21 Omega 3 fatty acid is present in JIPMER 2018
(a) sunflower oil (b) flax seed oil 27 A nucleoside having a phosphate group forms a
(c) groundnut oil (d) butter (a) nucleotides
(b) triglyceride
22 Which of the following is not a derivative of (c) lipids
cholesterol? JIPMER 2018 (d) nitrogen bases
(a) Vitamin-B (b) Vitamin-D
28 Refer to the given reactions.
(c) Bile salts (d) Steroid
I. Guanine + X → Guanosine
23 Which of the following structures represent the II. Guanosine + Y → Guanylic acid
structure of citrulline correctly? JIPMER 2019
Choose the correct option for X and Y.
(a) X–Phosphate group, Y–Sugar molecule
(a) H2N N (b) X–Sugar molecule, Y–Phosphate group
OH
NH2 (c) X–Sugar molecule, Y–Nitrogenous base
H (d) X–Nitrogenous base, Y–Sugar molecule

NH 29 Choose the correct option.

(a) DNA and RNA function as genetic material
(b) H2N N OH (b) Cytidine is a nucleotide
H NH2 (c) Phosphate is common in both nucleotides and
nucleosides
(d) DNA and RNA consist of nucleosides only

(c) H2N OH 30 Adenosine, guanosine, thymidine, uridine, cytidine

NH2 are all ........ but adenylic acid, guanylic acid, uridylic
acid, cytidylic acid are ...... .
(a) nucleotides, nucleosides
(b) nucleosides, nucleotides
(d) H2N OH
(c) nucleotides, nucleic acids
NH2
(d) nucleosides, nucleic acids
24 Choose the correct option for the molecule given 31 Identify A and B.
below.
NH2 O
O
 N
O CH2  O  C  R1 N HN
 
R2  C O  CH O NH
N O N
 
CH2  O  P  O  CH2  CH2
  H
OH N A B


CH3  CH3


A B
CH3 (a) Cytosine Uracil
(a) Cholesterol – A component of animal cell membrane (b) Adenine Thymine
(b) Lecithin – A component of cell membrane (c) Adenine Uracil
(c) Triglyceride – An energy source (d) Guanine Thymine
(d) Adenosine – A component of nucleic acids 32 Name the four elements called ‘Big four’, which
25 Which of the following organic compounds is the make up 95% of all elements found in a living
main constituent of lecithin? NEET (Odisha) 2019 system.
(a) Arachidonic acid (b) Phospholipid (a) C, H, O, P (b) C, H, O, N
(c) Cholesterol (d) Phosphoprotein (c) C, N, O, K (d) C, H, O, S
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules 219

TOPIC 2 ~ Primary and Secondary Metabolites

33 Secondary metabolites can be observed in 37 Choose the correct option.
(a) plant cells (a) Pigments – Carotenoids, anthocyanins
(b) fungal cells (b) Alkaloids – Monoterpenes
(c) microbial cells (c) Toxins – Morphine
(d) All of the above (d) Polymeric substances – Ricin
34 Which of the following is/are secondary metabolites? 38 Concanavalin A is NEET (National) 2019
(a) Rubber (b) Morphine (a) an essential oil (b) a lectin
(c) Curcumin (d) All of these (c) a pigment (d) an alkaloid
35 Primary metabolites 39 Select the secondary metabolites from the list given
(a) include glucose and fructose below.
(b) present in all living tissues I. Alkaloids II. Flavonoids
(c) plays known roles in all physiological process III. Rubber IV. Essential oils
(d) All of the above
V. Antibiotics VI. Coloured pigments
36 Which of the following secondary metabolites are VII. Scents VIII. Gums
used as drugs?
IX. Spices
(a) Vinblastin and curcumin
(b) Anthocyanin Choose the correct option.
(c) Gums and cellulose (a) I to IX (b) All except II and IX
(d) Abrin and ricin (c) I, III, IV and VI (d) All except I and VII

TOPIC 3 ~ Biomacromolecules and their Structure

40 Compounds found in acid soluble pool have 45 Which of the following is an essential amino acids?
molecular weight ranging from (a) Valine (b) Leucine
(a) 18-800 daltons (b) 100-800 daltons (c) Tryptophan (d) All of these
(c) more than 800 daltons (d) None of these 46 Non-essential amino acid is JIPMER 2018
41 Biomolecules having molecular weight less than one (a) valine (b) arginine
thousand dalton are (c) histidine (d) lysine
(a) macromolecules (b) biomacromolecules 47 Proteins are needed in diet because JIPMER 2018
(c) micromolecules (d) Both (a) and (b) (a) all amino acids are not available in body
42 After grinding a living tissue in trichloroacetic acid (b) during fasting, body utilises proteins
(c) proteins act as building blocks of our body
and then staining it, you would obtain two fractions,
(d) All of the above
i.e. acid soluble fraction and acid insoluble fraction.
Acid insoluble fraction does not contain 48 Which is the 21st amino acid? JIPMER 2018
(a) nucleic acids (b) polysaccharides (a) Pyrrolysine (b) Selenocysteine
(c) lipids (d) flavonoids and alkaloids (c) Cystine (d) Histidine
43 Why are lipids found in the acid insoluble fraction 49 ‘Ramachandran plot’ is used to confirm the structure
during the analysis of chemical composition of tissues? of NEET (Odisha) 2019
(a) It has very high molecular weight (a) RNA (b) proteins
(b) It is polymer (c) triacylglycerides (d) DNA
(c) It has low molecular weight 50 Protein on reaction with which yields Ruhemann’s
(d) On grinding, the biomembranes are broken into pieces purple? AIIMS 2019
and form insoluble vesicles (a) Ninhydrin (b) Cu 2+
44 The least abundant chemical component in living (c) H2 O2 (d) Benedict’s solution
organisms is 51 Name the most abundant protein in animal world.
(a) lipids (b) ions (a) RuBisCO (b) Carboxylase-oxygenase
(c) nucleic acids (d) protein (c) Collagen (d) Cellulose
220 Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )

52 Which is the most abundant protein in whole of the 58 For nucleic acids, the building block is a
biosphere? (a) nucleotide (b) nucleoside
(a) Collagen (b) Trypsin (c) Insulin (d) RuBisCO (c) polynucleotide (d) sugar
53 Identify the correct pair. 59 Name the heterocyclic compounds, which are known
Proteins Functions as nitrogenous bases.
(a) Collagen Hormone Choose the most appropriate option.
(b) Antibody Fights infectious agents (a) Adenine, guanine, uracil, cytosine and thymine
(c) Insulin Intercellular ground substance (b) Adenine, guanine, uracil and thymine
(d) Trypsin Enables glucose transport in cell (c) Adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil
54 Which two functional groups are characteristic of (d) None of the above
sugars? NEET 2018 60 Select the correct pair of substituted purines.
(a) Carbonyl and phosphate (b) Carbonyl and methyl (a) Cytosine and thymine (b) Adenine and guanine
(c) Hydroxyl and methyl (d) Carbonyl and hydroxyl (c) Uracil and cytosine (d) Guanine and uracil
55 Name the term given to the left and right ends of a 61 A nucleotide has three chemically distinct
polysaccharide. compounds, namely, A, B and C.
Left end Right end Choose the correct option for A, B and C.
(a) A–Sugar, B–Carbonates, C–Chlorides
X Y (b) A–DNA, B–Cellulose, C–Chitin
(c) A–Heterocyclic compound, B–Monosaccharide,
(a) Left end– N-terminal end, Right end– C-terminal end
C–Phosphate
(b) Left end–Reducing end, Right end–Non-reducing end
(d) A–Phosphoric acid, B–Proteins, C–Acids
(c) Left end–Non-reducing end, Right end–Reducing end
(d) Left end– C-terminal end, Right end– N-terminal end 62 The sugars found in polynucleotides are
A B
56 Identify A and B bonds in the following diagrammatic
(a) ribose sucrose
representation of a portion of glycogen.
(b) 2′ deoxyribose ribose
(c) ribose dextrose
(d) deoxyribose ribulose
63 Identify the structural formulae and select the correct
option.
O NH2 H2COH O Adenine

CH2OH CH2OH N
O N
O O O O
A N N
B CH OH OH
2 O O
O A B
OH OH O
OCH2 O Adenine
HO P
O O O O
OH
Choose the correct option.
(a) A = 1, 6 α-glycosidic bonds, B = 1, 4 α-glycosidic bonds
OH OH
(b) A = 1, 1α-glycosidic bonds, B = 1, 1α-glycosidic bonds C
(c) A = 1, 4 α-glycosidic bonds, B = 1, 4 α-glycosidic bonds
(a) A–Adenine, B–Adenosine, C–Adenylic acid
(d) A = 1, 4 α-glycosidic bonds, B = 1, 6 α-glycosidic bonds
(b) A–Guanine, B–Adenosine, C–Adenylic acid
57 Select the correct option, which represents the (c) A–Adenosine, B–Adenylic acid, C–Adenine
homopolysaccharides made up of glucose (d) A–Uracil, B–Adenosine, C–Adenylic acid
monomers. 64 Which of the following is incorrect?
(a) Sucrose, lactose, maltose (a) DNA and RNA consist of nucleotides only
(b) Chitin, glycogen, starch (b) Adenylic acid is a nucleoside
(c) Starch, inulin, peptidoglycan (c) Uridine is a nucleoside
(d) Starch, glycogen, cellulose (d) N-bases (A, G, C, T, U) have heterocyclic rings
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules 221

65 Primary structure of proteins is due to the presence of Formation of structures A, B, C and D is through
(a) peptide bond (b) covalent bond A B C D
(c) disulphide bond (d) ionic bonds (a) H-bonding in H-bonding in Further Both α-helix
single amino between two coiling in and β- sheet
66 In a protein structure, the first amino acid and the last acid chain only or more α-helix only joined and
amino acid are respectively called as polypeptide coiled
(a) N-terminal amino acid, C-terminal amino acid chains together
(b) C-terminal amino acid, N-terminal amino acid (b) H-bonding in H-bonding in Further Both α-helix
between two or single amino coiling in and β- sheet
(c) α-amino acid, β-amino acid more acid chain α-helix only joined and
(d) β-amino acid, α-amino acid polypeptide only coiled
67 Give the names of the structures of proteins as shown chains together
in the figures given below (c) H-bonding in H-bonding in Both α-helix Further
between two or single amino and β-sheet coiling in
more acid chain joined and α-helix only
polypeptide only coiled
chains together
(d) H-bonding in H-bonding in Further Further
N single amino between two folding of folding of a
N C acid chain only or more two or more number of
polypeptide secondary tertiary
C chains structures structures
A B C D
69 Adult human haemoglobin consists of
(a) A = 1° structure, B = 2° structure, C = 3° structure, (a) 2 subunits (b) 2 subunits (β , β )
D = 4° structure (c) 4 subunits ( 2α , 2β ) (d) 3 subunits (2α , β)
(b) A = 4° structure, B = 2° structure, C = 3° structure,
D = 1° structure 70 Acidic amino acids carry two COOH and one
(c) A = 1° structure, B = 4° structure, C = 3° structure,  NH 2 groups per molecule. Keeping this in mind,
D = 2° structure select the correct pair of acidic amino acid.
(d) A = 4° structure, B = 3° structure, C = 2° structure, (a) Lysine and arginine
D = 1° structure (b) Aspartic acid and glutamic acid
68 Refer to the given figure of various levels of protein (c) Glycine and alanine
structure. (d) Both (a) and (b)
71 In a polysaccharide, the individual monosaccharides
Primary are linked by a
Polypeptide (a) glycosidic bond (b) peptide bond
(c) ester bond (d) phosphodiester bond
72 Which bonds are indicated by X and Y in the given
diagram.
Secondary
O

O
O
CH2 Thymine Adenine CH2
Alpha-helix Beta-pleated sheet O Y bond
(A ) (B) O
O–
P O
Hydrogen bond O–
Tertiary O
(C) Disulphide bond OH O
O–
O P
X bond
O
O
H2C Guanine ≡≡ Cytosine CH2
Quaternary O
(D)

O
222 Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )

(a) X–Glycosidic bond, Y–Hydrogen bond 76 In a DNA strand, nitrogenous bases pair with each
(b) X–Phosphodiester bond, Y–Hydrogen bond other with the help of
(c) X–Glycosidic bond, Y–Phosphodiester bond (a) hydrogen bond
(d) X–Phosphodiester bond, Y–Glycosidic bond (b) van der Waals’ interaction
73 In the given structure ‘A’ represents (c) covalent bond
OA (d) ionic bond

HO P 77 According to Watson and Crick model of DNA

OCH2 O N—base (a) DNA exists as a double helix
OH (b) The two strands of polynucleotide are antiparallel to
each other
(a) ester bond (b) ionic bond (c) The backbone is formed by sugar and nucleic base
(c) phosphate bond (d) glycosidic bond (d) Both (a) and (b)
74 The elimination of water moiety during the formation 78 The form of DNA with 34Å pitch with a rise per base
of peptide bond is pair of 3.4Å is called
(a) peptide hydration (b) dehydration (a) A-DNA (b) B-DNA (c) Z-DNA (d) C-DNA
(c) hydration (d) reduction 79 The pyrimidine base, which confers additional
75 Which of the following is the least likely to be stability to DNA over RNA is
involved in stabilising the three-dimensional (3D) (a) adenine
folding of most proteins? NEET 2016 (b) guanine
(a) Hydrogen bonds (b) Electrostatic interaction (c) cytosine
(c) Hydrophobic interaction (d) Ester bonds (d) thymine

TOPIC 4 ~ Metabolism
80 The term metabolism means 83 Identify, whether the given conditions are anabolic or
(a) sum of all the enzymatically catalysed chemical catabolic.
reactions constantly taking place in the cells and tissues I. Glucose → Lactic acid
of the living organisms II. Amino acids → Proteins
(b) processes that change the small molecules into larger
(a) I–Catabolic; II–Catabolic
ones
(c) processes that convert the large molecules into smaller (b) I–Anabolic; II–Catabolic
ones (c) I–Catabolic; II–Anabolic
(d) None of the above (d) I–Anabolic; II–Anabolic
81 Choose the incorrect option. 84 Catabolic and anabolic pathways are often coupled in
(a) Removal of CO 2 from amino acids converts an amino cell because
acid into an amine (a) Both the paths have the same energy
(b) All the biomolecules have a turnover (b) the free energy released from one pathway is used to
(c) Metabolic pathways are termed as transformation drive other
reactions (c) the intermediates of a catabolic pathway are used in the
(d) Metabolic pathways always follow a linear route anabolic pathway
82 One of the major feature of metabolic reactions is that (d) their enzymes are controlled by their same activators
they are … . and inhibitors
(a) elementary reactions 85 Biomolecules are constantly being changed into some
(b) non-linked reactions other biomolecules and are made from … .
(c) heat evolving reactions (a) amino acids (b) biomolecules
(d) catalysed reactions (c) monosaccharides (d) enzymes
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules 223

86 The bond energy of which of the following chemicals 88 Choose the correct option.
is most important form of energy currency in living (a) The living state is a non-equilibrium steady state to be
organisms? able to perform work
(a) Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) (b) The constant flow of materials for energy in and out of
(b) Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NADP) cell prevents the cell from reaching equilibrium
(c) Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide (FAD) (c) Living state and metabolism are synonyms
(d) None of the above (d) All are correct
87 The blood concentration of glucose and hormones in 89 Why living state cannot afford to reach
a normal healthy individual, respectively are equilibrium?
(a) 4.2-6.1 mM, nanograms/mL (a) Due to insufficiency of biomolecules
(b) nanograms/mL, 4.5-5.0 mM (b) To remain active all the time
(c) 5.0-5-5 mM, nanograms/mL (c) To save the energy
(d) None of the above (d) None of the above

TOPIC 5 ~ Enzymes
90 Those nucleic acids, which behave like enzymes are 95 Which of the following describes the given graph
known as correctly? NEET 2016
(a) ribozymes (b) pepzymes
(c) ribose (d) Both (a) and (b)
91 The crevice or pocket of an enzyme in which the B
substrate bind is called
(a) active site (b) inactive site
(c) allotropic site (d) Both (a) and (b) A
Potential energy

92 Enzyme catalysts differ from inorganic catalysts in

Substrate
which way?
(a) Enzyme catalysts are smaller in size and lesser in
weight in comparison to that of inorganic catalysts
(b) Inorganic catalysts can work efficiently at high
temperature, but enzyme catalysts cannot (except few Product
enzymes)
(c) Inorganic catalysts can work efficiently at high Reaction
pressure, but enzyme catalysts cannot
(d) Both (b) and (c) (a) Endothermic reaction with energy–A in the presence of
enzyme and B in the absence of enzyme
93 A physical change during a chemical reaction refers to (b) Exothermic reaction with energy–A in the presence of
(a) change in shape without breaking of bonds enzyme and B in the absence of enzyme
(b) change in state matter (c) Endothermic reaction with energy–A in the absence of
(c) change in bond energy during the chemical reaction enzyme and B in the presence of enzyme
(d) Both (a) and (b) (d) Exothermic reaction with energy–A in the absence of
94 The rate of physical or chemical process can be enzyme and B in the presence of enzyme
defined as 96 Choose the correct option.
(a) the amount of reactant consumed per unit time (a) E + S → ES → E + P → EP
(b) the amount of product formed per unit time (b) E+S ES → E − P → E + P
e
(c) the bond energy released during bond formation per
(c) E + S → ES E − P → E + P
e
unit time
(d) All of the above (d) E+S ES E − P e eE+P e
224 Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )

97 Select the correct graph, which shows the effect of 102 The inhibitor, which inhibits the enzyme activity by
temperature on the velocity (V) of a typical enzymatic binding to the active site of the enzyme, due to the
reaction. close resemblance to the substrate in its molecular
structure is called
(a) non-competitive inhibitor (b) competitive inhibitor
(a) V (b) V
(c) allosteric modulator (d) feedback inhibitor
103 Which of the following acts as a competitive
Temp. Temp.
inhibitor?
(a) Penicillin (b) Malonate
(c) V (d) V (c) Relenza (d) Both (b) and (c)
104 In competitive inhibition, which of the following is
true?
Temp. Temp. (a) E + I s EI (b) E + I e EI + S eEIS
98 Choose the correct graph, showing the effect of pH on (c) S + I s SI (d) E S + I
e ESI
the velocity (V) of a typical enzymatic reaction. 105 How does radiation inactivate enzymes?
(a) By destroying tertiary structure
(a) V (b) V (b) By destroying primary structure
(c) By destroying secondary structure
pH pH
(d) Both (a) and (b)
106 Enzymes that catalyse the removal of groups from
(c) V (d) V substrates by mechanism other than hydrolysis,
addition of groups to double bonds are called
(a) lyases (b) ligases
pH pH (c) hydrolases (d) dehydrogenases
99 Select the correct graph, which shows the relationship 107 Which enzymes catalyse the breakdown of hydrogen
between the rate of an enzymatic activity and peroxide to water and oxygen?
substrate concentration. (a) A carbonic anhydrase and catalase
(b) Hydrolyase and oxidase
(a) V (b) V (c) Peroxidase and catalase
(d) Hydrolase and oxidase
108 What are proenzymes?
[S] [S]
(a) Inactive form of enzymes
Vmax
(b) Active form of enzymes
V V
2
(c) Neutral form of enzymes
(c) (d) (d) None of the above
Km [S] [S] 109 Transition state structure of the substrate formed
100 Michaelis-Menten constant (K m ) is equal to during an enzymatic reaction is NEET 2013

(a) the rate of enzymatic activity (a) transient, but stable

(b) the rate of reaction (b) permanent, but unstable
(c) substrate concentration at which the rate of the reaction (c) transient and unstable
attains half of its maximum velocity (d) permanent and stable
(d) substrate concentration at which the rate of reaction is 110 The inhibitor, which binds to the enzyme at site other
maximum
than the active site and does not resemble the
101 When the binding of the chemical shuts off enzyme substrate in structure is called
activity, the process and the chemical are respectively (a) activator (b) substrate analogue
called as (c) competitive inhibitor (d) non-competitive inhibitor
(a) inhibition, inhibitor
111 Enzymes that catalyse hydrolysis of ester bonds are
(b) competition, substrate
(a) hydrolases (b) lyases
(c) initiation, promoter
(d) None of the above (c) transferases (d) ligases
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules 225

112 Select the option, which is not correct with respect to (a) Apoenzyme = Holoenzyme + Coenzyme
enzyme action. CBSE-AIPMT 2014 (b) Holoenzyme = Apoenzyme + Coenzyme
(c) Coenzyme = Apoenzyme + Holoenzyme
(a) Substrate binds with enzyme at its active site
(d) Holoenzyme = Coenzyme + Cofactor
(b) Addition of a lot of succinate does not reverse the
inhibition of succinic dehydrogenase by malonate 115 Non-protein constituents bound to enzyme, which
(c) A non-competitive inhibitor binds the enzyme at a site make enzymes catalytically more active are
distinct from that, which binds the substrate (a) cofactors (b) co-ions
(d) Malonate is a competitive inhibitor of succinic (c) inhibitor (d) Both (a) and (b)
dehydrogenase
116 Apoenzymes are …… portion of the enzyme.
113 Prosthetic groups differ from coenzymes in that (a) acidic (b) non-protein
NEET (Odisha) 2019 (c) protein (d) basic
(a) they require metal ions for their activity
117 The cofactors that associate with the apoenzyme only
(b) they (prosthetic groups) are tightly bound to
apoenzymes
during course of catalysis are called as
(c) their association with apoenzymes is transient (a) cofactors (b) coenzymes
(d) they can serve as cofactors in a number of enzyme (c) metal ions (d) prosthetic group
catalysed reactions 118 Zinc is a cofactor for which enzyme?
114 Which one of the following statements is correct, with (a) Trypsin (b) Peroxidase
reference to enzymes? NEET 2017 (c) Carboxypeptidase (d) Apoenzyme

NEET
SPECIAL TYPES QUESTIONS
I. Assertion and Reason
■ Direction (Q. No. 119-128) In each of the following
questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is given followed
by corresponding statement of Reason (R). Of the
statements, mark the correct answer as
(a) If both A and R are true and R is the correct
explanation of A
(b) If both A and R are true, but R is not the correct
explanation of A
(c) If A is true, but R is false
(d) If A is false, but R is true
119 Assertion (A) In the solutions of different pH,
structure of amino acids changes.
Reason (R) It is because of the ionisable nature of
 NH 2 and COOH groups.
120 Assertion (A) Eight amino acids are referred to as
essential amino acids for humans.
Reason (R) These are synthesised in the human body.
121 Assertion (A) Zinc is an apoenzyme for
carboxypeptidase.
Reason (R) A complete catalytically active enzyme
together with its bound prosthetic group is called
apoenzyme.
122 Assertion (A) Arachidic acid is an unsaturated fatty
acid.
Reason (R) There are one or more variable double
bonds between carbon atoms in unsaturated fatty acids.
123 Assertion (A) Starch is a polymer of glucose.
Reason (R) It is made of several glucose units.
124 Assertion (A) Coenzyme is a non-protein group
without which certain enzymes are inactive or
incomplete.
Reason (R) Coenzymes not only provide a point of
attachment of the chemical group being transformed,
but also influence the properties of the group.
125 Assertion (A) Competitive inhibitor is also called
substrate analogue.
Reason (R) It resembles the enzymes in structure.
126 Assertion (A) Enzymes lower down the activation
energy of the reactant molecule to make its transition
into product easier.
Reason (R) Enzymes are highly substrate specific
catalysts.
127 Assertion (A) An example of non-competitive
inhibitor is cyanide.
Reason (R) Cyanide kills animals by inhibiting
cytochrome oxidase.
128 Assertion (A) Enzymes are not divided into different
classes.
Reason (R) All enzymes catalyse the different
reactions.
226
II. Statement Based Questions
129 Which of the following option is incorrect?
(a) All the elements present in a sample of earth’s crust are
also present in a sample of living tissue
(b) The relative abundance of carbon and hydrogen with
respect to other elements is higher in any living organism
than in earth’s crust
(c) The % weight of nitrogen in earth’s crust is very high in
comparison to human body
(d) The % weight of silicon in earth’s crust is very high in
comparison to human body
130 Which of the following option(s) is correct?
(a) Palmitic acid has sixteen carbon atoms including carboxyl
carbon
(b) Arachidonic acid has twenty carbon atoms excluding
carboxyl carbon
(c) Stearic acid has eighteen carbon atoms excluding carboxyl
carbon
(d) All are correct
131 Choose the incorrect statement with respect to
polysaccharides.
(a) Inulin is a heteropolysaccharide
(b) Cellulose given no colour with iodine solution
(c) Starch gives blue colour and glycogen gives red colour
with iodine solution
(d) Inulin is a homopolymer of fructose
132 Select the incorrect statement.
(a) Adult haemoglobin molecule is composed of four
polypeptide chains–two α-chains and two β-chains
(b) Haemoglobin is a type of quaternary protein structure
(c) Fibrinogen and thrombin are blood clotting proteins
(d) In the primary structure of a protein, the first amino acid is
called C-terminal acid
133 Choose the correct statement(s) with respect to proteins.
(a) In proteins, only right handed helices are observed
(b) Proteins cannot form quaternary structures
(c) Quaternary structures of proteins always involve two
polypeptide subunits
(d) All of the above
134 Choose the incorrect statement.
(a) Cholesterol is the most abundant steroid in the animal tissue
(b) Arachidonic acid has 20 carbon atoms including the
carboxyl carbon
(c) Glycerides are esters of fatty acid with glycerol
(d) Prostaglandins are derived from steroids
135 Identify the correct statement from those given below.
(a) Lipids with molecular weight not exceeding 800 Da comes
under acid soluble fraction
(b) The acid soluble fraction have four types of organic
compounds, i.e. proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides
and lipids
(c) The macromolecules from cytoplasm and organelles
become the acid insoluble fraction
(d) The acid insoluble pool represents roughly the
cytoplasmic composition of cells
Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )
136 Which one of the following statements is incorrect?
NEET 2016
(a) Cellulose is a polysaccharide
(b) Uracil is a pyrimidine
(c) Glycine is a sulphur containing amino acid
(d) Sucrose is a disaccharide
137 Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(a) Living steady state has a self-regulatory mechanism
called homeostasis
(b) Energy flow and energy transformation of living
system follow law of thermodynamics
(c) Metabolism is the release and gain of energy
(d) All of the above
138 Which one of the following statements is incorrect?
CBSE-AIPMT 2015
(a) A competitive inhibitor reacts reversibly with the
enzyme to form an enzyme-inhibitor
(b) In competitive inhibition, the inhibitor molecule is
not chemically changed by the enzyme
(c) The competitive inhibitor does not affect the rate of
breakdown of the enzyme-substrate complex
(d) The presence of the competitive inhibitor decreases
the K m of the enzyme for the substrate
139 Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(a) Relative abundance of carbon and hydrogen with
respect to other elements is higher in any living
organisms
(b) Living organisms have more nitrogen and oxygen
per unit mass than inanimate objects (e.g. earth’s
crust)
(c) All the elements present in a sample of earth’s crust
are also present in a sample of living tissue
(d) All of the above
140 Choose the incorrect statement.
(a) Simple lipid is glycerol which is trihydroxy propane
(b) Many lipids have both glycerol and fatty acids
(c) Oils have high melting point
(d) Phospholipids have phosphorus and a
phosphorylated organic compound in them
141 Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
I. Left end of a polysaccharide is called non-reducing
end, while right end is called reducing end.
II. Starch and glycogen are branched molecules.
III. Starch and glycogen are the reserve food materials
of plants and animals, respectively.
IV. Starch can hold iodine molecules in its helical
secondary structure, but cellulose being
non-helical, cannot hold iodine.
(a) I and II
(b) All statements are incorrect
(c) Only IV
(d) None of the above
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules
142 Which of the following statements is/are correct for
polysaccharides?
I. The polysaccharides are found as a part of the acid
insoluble pellet.
II. These are long chains of sugars.
III. They are threads containing different
monosaccharides as building blocks.
IV. Cellulose is a polymeric polysaccharide consisting of
only one type of monosaccharide, i.e. fructose.
V. Inulin is a polymer of fructose.
(a) All are correct (b) All are correct except IV
(c) III and IV (d) Only IV
143 Consider the following statements.
I. Haemoglobin is an example of quaternary structure of
proteins.
II. Haemoglobin molecule is composed of four
polypeptide chains-twoα- chains and twoβ-chains.
(a) I is true, but II is false (b) II is true, but I is false
(c) Both I and II are true (d) Both I and II are false
144 Choose the correct statements.
I. Bond energy (ATP) is utilised for biosynthesis,
osmotic and mechanical work that we perform.
II. When glucose is degraded into lactic acid in our
muscles, energy is liberated.
III. Assembly of a protein from amino acid requires
energy.
IV. Majority of metabolic reactions can occur in
isolation.
V. There are many examples of uncatalysed metabolic
reactions.
(a) IV and V (b) I and III
(c) I, II and III (d) None of these
145 Which of the following statements are correct?
I. Acetic acid can form cholesterol.
II. Flow of metabolites through metabolic pathway has a
definite rate and direction. It is called dynamic state of
body constituents.
III. Anabolic pathway is endergonic, while catabolic
pathway is exergonic.
IV. All biomolecules have a turn over, i.e. they are
constantly being changed into some other
biomolecules and also made from other biomolecules.
(a) I, II, III and IV
(b) I and II
(c) III and IV
(d) Only IV
146 Which of the following statements about enzymes are
correct?
I. Enzymes do not alter the overall change in free energy
for a reaction.
II. Enzymes are highly specific for reactions.
227
III. The energy input needed to start a chemical reaction is
called activation energy.
IV. Enzymes are proteins whose three dimensional shape
is key to their functions.
(a) I and V (b) I, II and V
(c) II and V (d) All of these
147 Arrange the steps of catalytic action of an enzyme in
order and choose the correct option.
I. The enzyme releases the products of the reaction and
gets free for another substrate.
II. The active site of enzyme is in close proximity of the
substrate and breaks chemical bonds of the substrate.
III. The binding of substrate induces the enzyme to alter its
shape, fitting more tightly around the substrate.
IV. The substrate binds to the active sites of the enzyme,
fitting into the active sites.
(a) IV → III → II → I (b) III → II → I → IV
(c) IV → II → I → III (d) II → I → IV → III
148 Consider the following statements.
I. Most of the enzymes are proteins, which catalyse
biochemical reactions.
II. The enzyme itself is unchanged in the reaction, its
presence allows the reaction to take place.
Choose the correct option.
(a) I is true, but II is false (b) II is true, but I is false
(c) Both I and II are true (d) Both I and II are false
149 Consider the following statements.
I. Enzymes lower the activation energy of the reaction.
II. Higher activation energy helps the molecules to react
with greater rate.
Choose the correct option.
(a) I is true, but II is false (b) II is true, but I is false
(c) Both I and II are true (d) Both I and II are false
150 Consider the following statements.
I. Coenzyme or metal ion that is tightly bound to enzyme
protein is called prosthetic group.
II. A complete catalytic active enzyme with its bound
prosthetic group is called apoenzyme.
Choose the correct option.
(a) I is true, but II is false (b) II is true, but I is false
(c) Both I and II are true (d) Both I and II are false
151 Consider the following statements.
I. Plant cell walls are made of cellulose.
II. Plant pulp and cotton fibre are cellulosic.
III. Glucosamine and N-acetyl galactosamine are complex
polysaccharides.
IV. Chitin is present in exoskeleton of arthropods.
V. Complex polysaccharides are mostly homopolymers.
Choose the correct option.
(a) I and II are true (b) II and III are true
(c) IV and V are false (d) All of these are true
228 Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )

152 Consider the following statements. 156 Match the following columns.
I. Cofactor plays a crucial role in the catalytic activity Column I Column II
of the enzyme. (Categories) (Examples of secondary metabolite)
II. Catalytic activity is lost when cofactor is removed A. Alkaloids 1. Lemon grass oil
from the enzyme.
B. Terpenoids 2. Ricin
(a) I is true, but II is false (b) II is true, but I is false
C. Toxins 3. Diterpene
(c) Both I and II are true (d) Both I and II are false
D. Essential oil 4. Codeine
III. Matching Type Questions Codes
153 Match the following columns. A B C D A B C D
(a) 4 3 2 1 (b) 1 2 3 4
Column I Column II
(Components) (% of the total cellular mass)
(c) 3 2 4 1 (d) 2 3 1 4

A. Water 1. 10-15 157 Match the following columns.

B. Proteins 2. 70-90 Column I Column II
(Categories) (Features)
C. Carbohydrates 3. 5-7
A. Prosthetic group 1. Coordination bond with apoenzyme
D. Lipids 4. 3
E. Nucleic acids 5. 2 B. Coenzyme 2. Tightly bound to apoenzyme
C. Metal ions cofactor 3. Transient binding with apoenzyme
Codes
A B C D E Codes
(a) 1 3 2 4 5 A B C A B C
(b) 2 1 4 5 3 (a) 2 3 1 (b) 3 2 1
(c) 1 2 3 4 5 (c) 2 1 3 (d) 1 2 3
(d) 5 3 2 1 4
158 Match the following columns.
154 Match the following columns.
Column I Column II
Column I Column II (Categories) (Examples)
A. Fructose 1. Protein A. Prosthetic group 1. NAD
B. Galactose 2. Phospholipid B. Cofactor 2. Haem
C. Anticoagulant 3. Brain sugar C. Coenzyme 3. Zn ions
D Insulin 4. Heparin
Codes
5. Fruit sugar
A B C A B C
Codes (a) 2 3 1 (b) 1 2 3
A B C D A B C D (c) 3 1 2 (d) 2 1 3
(a) 1 2 4 5 (b) 5 2 4 1 159 Match the following columns.
(c) 5 3 4 1 (d) 1 3 5 1
Column I Column II
155 Match the following columns. (Enzymes) (Characteristics)
Column I Column II A. Dehydrogenases 1. Interconversion of optical, geometrical
positional isomers
A. Triglycerides 1. Galactose
B. Lactose 2. Glycerol B. Ligases 2. Group transfer

C. RNA 3. Palmitic acid C. Isomerases 3. Oxidoreduction between two substrates

D. β-pleated 4. Uracil D. Hydrolases 4. Linking together of two bonds

E. Beeswax 5. Secondary structure E. Transferases 5. Hydrolysis of bonds

Codes Codes
A B C D E A B C D E
(a) 4 1 5 2 3 (a) 5 4 1 2 3
(b) 5 1 4 2 3 (b) 4 3 5 2 1
(c) 3 1 4 5 2 (c) 5 4 2 3 1
(d) 2 1 4 5 3 (d) 3 4 1 5 2
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules 229

NCERT & NCERT Exemplar

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
NCERT 166 Many elements are found in living organisms either
160 Tertiary structure in a protein free or in the form of compounds. One of the
(a) defines amino acid sequence of a protein following is not found in living organisms.
(b) is formed by disulphide linkages and van der Waal’s (a) Silicon (b) Magnesium
forces (c) Iron (d) Sodium
(c) is responsible for the formation of catalytic site 167 When we homogenise any tissue in an acid, the acid
(d) All of the above soluble pool represents
161 Quantitative test for proteins includes (a) cytoplasm (b) cell membrane
(a) Sudan black test (c) nucleus (d) mitochondria
(b) Tollens test 168 The most abundant chemical in living organisms
(c) Xanthoproteic test could be
(d) Iodine test (a) protein (b) water
162 Triglycerides are composed of (c) sugar (d) nucleic acid
(a) glycerol 169 Glycogen is a homopolymer made of
(b) ester bonds (a) glucose units (b) galactose units
(c) unsaturated fatty acids (c) ribose units (d) amino acids
(d) All of the above
170 The number of ‘ends’ in a glycogen molecule would be
163 Ribonucleic acid on rough endoplasmic reticulum
(a) equal to the number of branches plus one
shows the presence of
(b) equal to the number of branch points
(a) sugar phosphate bonds on both strands
(c) one
(b) o-glycosidic bonds
(d) two, one on the left side and another on the right side
(c) phosphodiester linkages
(d) peptide bonds from 5′ → 3′ end 171 Which of the following sugars have the same number
of carbon as present in glucose?
164 Properties defining enzyme activity include the
(a) Fructose (b) Erythrose
(a) correct folding at primary level of organisation
(c) Ribulose (d) Ribose
(b) presence or absence of optimum temperature and pH
(c) presence of substrate concentration that increases 172 Amino acids have both an amino group and a
initially and then attains V max carboxyl group in their structure. Which amongst the
(d) All of the above following is an amino acid?
(a) Formic acid (b) Glycerol
NCERT Exemplar (c) Glycolic acid (d) Glycine
165 It is said that elemental composition of living 173 An amino acid under certain conditions have both
organisms and that of inanimate objects (like earth’s positive and negative charges simultaneously in the
crust) are similar in the sense that all the major same molecule, such a form of amino acid is called
elements are present in both. Then what would be the (a) acidic form (b) basic form
difference between these two groups? (c) aromatic form (d) zwitter ion form
Choose the correct answer from the following. 174 A homopolymer has only one type of building block
(a) Living organisms have more gold in them than called monomer repeated ‘n’ number of times. A
inanimate objects heteropolymer has more than one type of monomer.
(b) Living organisms have more water in their body than Proteins are heteropolymers usually made of
inanimate objects (a) 20 types of monomers
(c) Living organisms have more carbon, oxygen and (b) 40 types of monomers
hydrogen per unit mass than inanimate objects
(c) 30 types of monomers
(d) Living organisms have more calcium in them than
inanimate objects (d) Only one type of monomers
230 Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )

175 Proteins perform many physiological functions, e.g. 177 An acid soluble compound formed by
some functions as enzyme. One of the following phosphorylation of nucleoside is called
represents an additional function that some proteins (a) nitrogen base
discharge. (b) adenine
(a) Antibiotics (c) sugar phosphate
(b) Pigments conferring colour to skin (d) nucleotide
(c) Pigments making colour of flowers 178 Which of the following reactions is not enzyme
(d) Hormones mediated in biological system?
(a) Dissolving CO 2 in water
176 The primary structure of a protein molecule has (b) Unwinding the two strands of DNA
(a) two ends (b) one end (c) Hydrolysis of sucrose
(c) three ends (d) no ends (d) Formation of peptide bond

Answers
>Mastering NCERT with MCQs
1 (a) 2 (a) 3 (b) 4 (c) 5 (b) 6 (c) 7 (b) 8 (a) 9 (d) 10 (c) 11 (a) 12 (d) 13 (b) 14 (d) 15 (c)
16 (d) 17 (a) 18 (c) 19 (a) 20 (d) 21 (b) 22 (a) 23 (a) 24 (b) 25 (b) 26 (c) 27 (a) 28 (b) 29 (a) 30 (b)
31 (c) 32 (b) 33 (d) 34 (d) 35 (d) 36 (a) 37 (a) 38 (b) 39 (a) 40 (a) 41 (c) 42 (d) 43 (d) 44 (b) 45 (d)
46 (b) 47 (d) 48 (b) 49 (b) 50 (a) 51 (c) 52 (d) 53 (b) 54 (d) 55 (c) 56 (d) 57 (d) 58 (a) 59 (a) 60 (b)
61 (c) 62 (b) 63 (a) 64 (b) 65 (a) 66 (a) 67 (c) 68 (d) 69 (c) 70 (b) 71 (a) 72 (b) 73 (a) 74 (b) 75 (d)
76 (a) 77 (d) 78 (b) 79 (d) 80 (a) 81 (d) 82 (d) 83 (c) 84 (c) 85 (b) 86 (a) 87 (a) 88 (d) 89 (b) 90 (a)
91 (a) 92 (d) 93 (d) 94 (b) 95 (b) 96 (b) 97 (c) 98 (c) 99 (c) 100 (c) 101 (a) 102 (b) 103 (d) 104 (a) 105 (a)
106 (a) 107 (c) 108 (a) 109 (c) 110 (d) 111 (a) 112 (b) 113 (b) 114 (b) 115 (a) 116 (c) 117 (b) 118 (c)

> NEET Special Types Questions

119 (a) 120 (c) 121 (d) 122 (d) 123 (a) 124 (a) 125 (c) 126 (b) 127 (b) 128 (d) 129 (c) 130 (a) 131 (a) 132 (d) 133 (a)
134 (d) 135 (c) 136 (c) 137 (d) 138 (d) 139 (d) 140 (c) 141 (d) 142 (b) 143 (c) 144 (c) 145 (a) 146 (d) 147 (a) 148 (c)
149 (a) 150 (a) 151 (d) 152 (c) 153 (b) 154 (c) 155 (d) 156 (a) 157 (a) 158 (a) 159 (d)

> NCERT & NCERT Exemplar Questions

160 (d) 161 (c) 162 (d) 163 (c) 164 (d) 165 (c) 166 (a) 167 (a) 168 (b) 169 (a) 170 (a) 171 (a) 172 (d) 173 (d) 174 (a)
175 (d) 176 (a) 177 (d) 178 (a)

Answers & Explanations

1 (a) After performing the chemical analysis of organic
compounds found in living organisms, two types of organic
compounds were observed. They were the filtrate fraction or
the acid soluble pool and the retentate fraction or the acid
insoluble pool.
3 (b) After grinding a living tissue in trichloroacetic acid the
inorganic compounds like sulphate, phosphate, etc., are present
in acid soluble fraction. This fraction consists of
biomicromolecules (i.e. amino acids, nucleotides, etc.) and
inorganic compounds. The acid insoluble fraction consists of
biomacromolecules (i.e. proteins, nucleic acids, etc).
5 (b) After burning the dry tissue, all the organic
compounds are oxidised to gaseous form (CO2 and water
vapour) and are removed. The material left which contains
inorganic elements (e.g. calcium, magnesium, etc) is termed
‘ash’.
7 (b) Amino acids are said to be organic compounds which
contain an amino group and an acidic group as
substituents on the same carbon, i.e. the α-carbon. Hence,
these are also called α-amino acids.
8 (a) The four substituent groups occupying the four
valency positions in an amino acids are hydrogen,
carboxyl group, amino group and a variable group
designated as R-group.
13 (b) The given structures are as follows
A–Alanine–R-group is methane.
B–Glycine–R-group is hydrogen.
C–Serine–R-group is hydroxy methane.
15 (c) B is the zwitter ion form because a zwitter ion is a
dipolar ion with both positive and negative ion groups.
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules
19 (a) Saturated fatty acids possess single bond between
carbon atoms. They have a high melting point and are
solid at room temperature, e.g. palmitic acid, stearic
acid. Whereas unsaturated fatty acids contain one or
more double bonds in between their carbon atoms.
They have a low melting point and are liquid at room
temperature, e.g. linoleic acid, oleic acid.
20 (d) Lipids are not polymeric compounds. Polymers are
substances formed by the polymerisation of monomers.
But the basic unit of lipids are fatty acids and glycerol
molecules that do not form repetitive chains.
Instead they form triglycerides from three fatty acids
and one glycerol molecule. Other options like
Proteins are polymers of amino acids, carbohydrates
are polymers of monosaccharides and nucleic acids are
polymers of nucleotides.
21 (b) Omega 3 fatty acids are present in flax seed oil.
These are Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs). They
are important for normal metabolism. Mammals are
unable to synthesise omega 3 fatty acids.
22 (a) Vitamin-B is not a derivative of cholesterol. It is not
a single vitamin, but a family of different vitamins
known as B-complex. These are water soluble and are
derivative of amino acids not lipids.
23 (a) Structure in option (a) is correct representation of
citrulline. It is an α-amino acid with molecular formula
H2 NC( O ) NH ( CH2 )3 CH ( NH2 ) CO2 H . It is the part of
urea cycle taking place in the body.
25 (b) Phospholipids are the main constituents of lecithin.
These molecules are composed of choline and inositole.
It is found in all living cells and serves as a major
component of cell membrane.
26 (c) Living organisms have a number of carbon
compound in which heterocyclic rings can be found.
Some of these are the nitrogen bases, i.e. adenine,
guanine, cytosine, uracil and thymine.
27 (a) Nucleotides are formed when a phosphate group is
esterified to the sugar molecule of a nucleoside. In
simple words, a nucleoside with a phosphate group
forms a nucleotide.
28 (b) Option (b) is correct and can be explained as
follows
I. Guanine + 
→ Guanosine
X
(Nitrogen (Sugar (Nucleoside)
base) molecule)
II. Guanosine + Y 
→ Guanylic acid
(Nucleoside) (Phosphate (Nucleotide)
group)
29 (a) Option (a) is correct. Other options are incorrect
and can be corrected as
l
Cytidine is a nucleoside.
l
Sugar and nitrogenous base are common in both
nucleotides and nucleosides.
l
DNA and RNA consist of nucleotides only.
32 (b) The four main elements termed as the ‘Big four’
and are found in a living system, which make 95% of
all elements are
231
Carbon − 18.5%
Hydrogen − 0.5%
Oxygen − 65%
Nitrogen − 3.3%
35 (d) Primary metabolites are present in all living tissues.
These include amino acids, sugars (e.g. glucose,
fructose) etc. They play a major role in different
physiological processes of the body including growth,
development and reproduction.
36 (a) Vinblastin treat cancer and curcumin (haldi) has
several medicinal property. Thus, these are secondary
metabolites used as drugs.
37 (a) Option (a) contains the correct information. Rest are
incorrect and can be corrected as
l
Alkaloids — Morphine
l
Toxins — Abrin, ricin
l
Polymeric substances — Rubber, gums, cellulose
38 (b) Concanavalin A is a lectin or a carbohydrate binding
protein. It is a T-cell mitogen that can activate the
immune system, recruit lymphocytes and elicit cytokine
production. It can also induce programmed cell death via
mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.
42 (d) Flavonoids and alkaloids are secondary metabolites.
These are with very less molecular weight (i.e. less than
1000 dalton). Thus, are not found in acid insoluble
fraction, as this fraction comprises of
biomacromolecules.
43 (d) Upon grinding a tissue, cell membrane and other
membranes are broken into pieces and form vesicles,
which are not water soluble and get separated along with
the acid insoluble pool. Since, lipids are the constituents
of cell membrane and are water unsoluble, these also
form vesicles and get separated in the acid insoluble
pool.
47 (d) Option (d) is correct.
Proteins are polymers of amino acids. These are divided
into two categories; essential and non-essential amino
acids. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesised in the
body and therefore must be included in the diet. Proteins
are used as structural components of tissues and also as
channels, transporters, regulatory molecules and
enzymes. Proteins can also be utilised as energy sources.
Answers & Explanations
Normally, this is a secondary function and becomes
important only when there is not enough carbohydrate
and fat in the body, e.g. during fasting.
48 (b) Selenocysteine (Sec) is the 21st amino acid in the
genetic code. This amino acid contains selenium. Its
structure has been given below
HSe
OH
H 2N
O
49 (b) Ramachandran plot is used to confirm the structure
of proteins. It is a plot of the angles-phi (φ ) and psi ( ψ )
of amino acids found in a peptide chain. This plot was
232
developed by GN Ramachandran, an Indian Scientist
in 1963.
50 (a) Protein on reaction with ninhydrin yields
Ruhemann’s purple which is deep blue to purple in
colour. Chemically it is 2-2 dihydroxy in dane-1, 3,
dion. It is used to detect ammonia, primary and
secondary amines in a samples.
53 (b) Option (b) contains the correct match. Rest of the
matches are incorrect and can be corrected as
Proteins Functions
Collagen Intercellular ground substance
Trypsin Enzyme
Insulin Hormone
54 (d) Sugars characteristically possess two functional
groups, i.e. carbonyl and hydroxyl. Sugars are
chemically carbohydrates. They are polyhydroxy
aldoses, ketoses and their condensation products.
Aldoses bear a terminal aldehyde or —CHO group
while ketoses have an internal ketone or —CO group.
56 (d) A represents 1, 4α-glycosidic bonds as the glucose
residues in glycogen are linked by this bond.
B represents 1, 6α-glycosidic bonds as this bond
creates branches in glycogen.
57 (d) Homopolysaccharides are composed of
monosaccharide molecules of a single type. They
include three biologically important substances
glycogen, starch and cellulose.
58 (a) For nucleic acids, the building block is a
nucleotide. A nucleotide has three chemically distinct
components, i.e. one is a heterocyclic nitrogenous
base compound, second is a pentose monosaccharide
and the third is a phosphoric acid or a phosphate
group.
60 (b) Adenine and guanine are substituted purines, while
the rest, i.e. uracil, cytosine and thymine, are
substituted pyrimidines.
63 (a) Structure ‘A’ represents adenine, which is a
substituted purine.
Structure ‘B’ represents adenosine, which is a
nucleoside.
Structure ‘C’ represents adenylic acid, which is a
Answers & Explanations
nucleotide.
66 (a) In proteins, the left end represented by the first
amino acid is termed as the N-terminal amino acid due
to the presence of a free amino group. The right end
represented by the last amino acid is termed as the
C-terminal amino acid due to the presence of a free
carboxyl group.
67 (c) A represents the primary structure of proteins.
B represents the quarternary structure of proteins.
C represents the tertiary structure of proteins.
D represents the secondary structure of proteins.
68 (d) Option (d) is correct.
l
Alpha helix (A) is formed by the formation of H-bond
between the NH group of one amino acid and the CO
Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )
group of another amino acid located three or four
residues earlier along the protein sequence.
l
β-pleated sheet (B) is formed by the formation of at least
two to three hydrogen bonds between two or more
protein strands laterally.
l
Tertiary protein structure (C) is formed by the bending
and folding of two or more protein secondary structures.
l
Quarternary protein structure (D) consists of an assembly
of two or more polypeptides or subunits. It is formed by
further folding in two or more tertiary protein structures.
72 (b) Given figure represents a part of DNA molecule in
which bond X represents the phosphodiester bond and Y
represents the hydrogen bond.
73 (a) In the given structure, a represents the ester bond
formed by condensation reactions, involving elimination
of water.
75 (d) Ester bond is formed between sugar and phosphate in
a nucleotide and is not involved in stabilising the three
dimensional (3D) folding of most proteins. The tertiary
protein structure is the 3D structure of protein. It is
stabilised by the use of hydrogen bond, ionic bond, van
der Waals’ interactions, covalent bond and hydrophobic
bond.
76 (a) In a DNA strand, nitrogenous bases pair with each
other with the help of hydrogen bonds. There are two
hydrogen bonds between A and T and three hydrogen
bonds between G and C.
77 (d) Both options (a) and (b) are correct with respect to
the structure of DNA elucidated by Watson and Crick.
Option (c) is incorrect and can be corrected as
The backbone of DNA is formed by the sugar phosphate
sugar chain.
78 (b) In one form of DNA, each DNA strand appears like a
helical staircase and each step of ascent is represented by
a pair of bases. At each ascent step, the pitch would be
34 Å and the rise per base pair would be 3.4 Å. This
form of DNA is called the B-DNA.
79 (d) In DNA, thymine (5-methyl uracil) is present, which
provides extra stability to DNA as it does not contain
2′—OH group like uracil, which is present in RNA in
place of thymine.
81 (d) The option (c) is incorrect and can be corrected as
Metabolic pathways not always follow linear routes.
They are circular sometimes. These pathways criss-cross
each other.
83 (c) Glucose is degraded into lactic acid in skeletal muscles
by a catabolic process through which energy is liberated.
Assembly of a protein from amino acids requires energy
and hence, it is an anabolic process.
86 (a) The bond energy of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is
the most important form of energy currency in living
organisms.
On conversion of ADP into ADP and inorganic
phosphate there released 7.3 Kcal/mol of energy.
89 (b) To remain active all the time is the ability of living
state. As a system at equilibrium cannot perform work
thereby, beoming dead.
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules
Therefore, as living organisms work continuously, they
make a constant effort to prevent falling into equilibrium.
92 (d) Both options (b) and (c) are correct.
As inorganic catalyst works efficiently at high
temperature and pressure, while enzymes gets damaged
at high temperature (say above 40ºC). However few
enzymes isolated from thermophilic organisms works at
up to 80º-90ºC. Other incorrect statement can be
corrected as
Enzyme catalysts are larger in size and higher in weight
in comparison to that of inorganic catalyst.
95 (b) The graph shows exothermic reaction. The reaction
graph depicted by A states its occurrence in the
presence of enzyme as it lowers down the activation
energy substantially. The B graph shows this reaction
occurring in the absence of enzyme when activation
energy is quite high. Thus, option (b) is correct.
96 (b) Each enzyme (E) has a substrate (S) binding site in
its molecule, so that a highly reactive enzyme substrate
complex (ES) is produced. This complex is short-lived
and dissociates into its product and the unchanged
enzyme with an intermediate formation of the enzyme
product complex (EP).
Thus, the correct representation is
E+S s ES → E − P → E + P
98 (c) Each enzyme shows its maximum activity at a
particular pH and temperature, known as optimum pH
and optimum temperature respectively. Before and
after, this optimum pH or temperature the enzyme
activity is less.
Thus, graph in option (c) is correct showing the effect
of pH on the velocity of a typical enzymatic reaction.
99 (c) When enzyme molecules are more in number than
substrate molecules, a progressive increase in the
substrate molecules ( S ), increases the rate or velocity
(V) of their conversion to products.
However, eventually the rate of reaction reaches a
maximum. At this stage, the active sites of all the
available enzyme molecules are occupied by the
substrate molecules. Therefore, the substrate molecules
occupy the active sites vacated by the products and
cannot increase the rate of reaction further. Thus, the
graph given in option (c) is correct.
100 (c) Michaelis Menten constant (K m) is equal to the
substrate concentration at which the velocity of the
reaction is half of the maximum velocity. It is inversely
proportional to the enzyme activity.
101 (a) The activity of an enzyme is also sensitive to the
presence of specific chemicals that bind to the enzyme.
When the binding of the chemical shuts off enzyme
activity, the process is called inhibition and the
chemical involved is called as inhibitor.
103 (d) Both malonate and Relenza (synthetic drug) act as a
competitive inhibitors. Whereas penicillin (antibiotic) is
a non-competitive inhibitor.
105 (a) Radiation inactivate enzymes by destroying their
tertiary structure. As mostly all enzymes are proteins
233
and proteins are found in our biological systems are
tertiary proteins. Thus, if their structure is broken down
they will be become inactive and functionless.
112 (b) Option (b) is incorrect with respect to enzyme action
and can be corrected as
Addition of a lot of succinate reverses the inhibition of
succinic dehydrogenase by malonate. Inhibition of
succinic dehydrogenase by malonate is an example of
competitive inhibition. Thus, both enzyme and inhibitor
compete for the active site of enzyme owing to
structural similarity resulting in the decrease of the
enzymatic activity.
Rest of the options are correct.
113 (b) Prosthetic groups are organic compounds and are
distinguished from other cofactors in that they are
tightly bound to the apoenzyme. For example, in
peroxidase and catalase, which catalyse the breakdown
of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen, haem is the
prosthetic group and it is a part of the active site of the
enzyme.
Co-enzymes are also organic compounds, but their
association with the apoenzyme is only transient,
usually occurring during the course of catalysis.
114 (b) Option (b) gives the correct representation.
Holoenzyme It is a conjugate complete catalytically
active enzyme together with its coenzyme.
Apoenzyme The protein part of catabolically active
enzyme is called apoenzyme.
Coenzyme Some enzymes require additional organic or
metallo-organic molecules for their activity. These
molecules are called coenzyme.
So, holoenzyme is apoenzyme together with coenzyme
hence, option (b) is correct.
119 (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is
the correct explanation of Assertion.
Amino acids have a particular property, i.e. the
ionisable nature of —NH2 and  COOH groups. Hence,
in solutions of different pH, the structure of amino acids
changes.
In a neutral solution, the amino acid molecule exists as a
dipolar ion (zwitter ion) having both positive and
negative ion groups. The charge on this ion changes
with the pH. In acid solutions (low pH), the amino
Answers & Explanations
group of amino acid picks up H+ ions and becomes
positively charged. On the other hand, in alkaline
solution (high pH), the amino acid donates H+ ions to
the medium and becomes negatively charged.
R

H+3 N  CH  COOH s
Cation
(Low pH)
R R
 
H+3 N  CH  COO− s H2 N  CH  COO−
Zwitter ion Anion
(Isoelectric pH) (High pH)
234
120 (c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false and can be
corrected as
Eight amino acids are referred to as the essential
amino acids for humans. These must be ingested
through diet, since they are not synthesised in the
human body.
121 (d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true and
Assertion can be corrected as
Zinc is the cofactor for the proteolytic enzyme,
carboxypeptidase.
122 (d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true and
Assertion can be corrected as
Arachidic acid is a saturated fatty acid found in
peanut oil. It is with 20 carbon chain.
123 (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason
is the correct explanation of Assertion.
Starch is a homopolysaccharide made up of several
glucose monomer units.
124 (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason
is correct explanation of Assertion.
Coenzyme is a non-protein group that activates
certain enzymes. This occurs as coenzymes provide
a point of attachment to the chemical group being
transformed and also influences its properties.
125 (c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false and can be
corrected as
Competitive inhibitor resembles the substrate in
structure.
126 (b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason
is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
The correct explanation would be energy
Enzymes are able to lower the activation of the
reactant molecule by binding to and placing the
substrate in close proximity to other substrates and
catalytic groups, so that less energy is required to
enable interaction between them.
Another way is that enzymes may provide charged
side groups in their amino acid structure to help
stabilise transition states between the initial and final
products.
127 (b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason
is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
Answers & Explanations
The correct explanation would be
Cyanide is an example of non-competitive inhibitor
as it can attach to the enzyme at a region other than
the active site and inhibits its activity.
128 (d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true. Assertion
can be corrected as
Enzymes, mostly have been categorised into six
different classes on the basis of the reactions they
catalyse.
The six classes of enzymes are oxidoreductases,
transferases, hydrolases, lyases, ligases and
isomerases.
Master The NCERT > BIOLOGY (Vol-I )
129 (c) The statement in option (c) is incorrect and can be
corrected as
The percentage weight of nitrogen in the earth’s crust is
very low as compared to that in the human body.
Rest of the options are correct.
130 (a) The statement in option (a) is correct. Rest of the
statements are incorrect and can be corrected as
l
Arachidonic acid has 20 carbon atoms including the
carboxyl carbon atom.
l
Stearic acid has 18 carbon atoms including the carboxyl
carbon atom.
131 (a) The statement in option (a) is incorrect with respect to
polysaccharides. It can be corrected as
Insulin is a homopolysaccharide. It is a polymer of fructose.
Rest of the statements are correct.
132 (d) The statement in option (d) is incorrect about proteins.
It can be corrected as
In the primary structure of a protein, the first amino acid is
called the N-terminal amino acid. The last amino acid is
termed as the C-terminal amino acid.
Rest of the statements are correct.
133 (a) The statement in option (a) is correct with respect to
proteins. Rest of the statements are incorrect and can be
corrected as
l
Proteins form quarternary structures.
l
Quarternary structures of proteins always involve two or
more than two tertiary polypeptide units.
134 (d) The statement in option (d) is incorrect and can be
corrected as
Prostaglandins are derived from the fatty acid, arachidonic
acid.
Rest of the statements are correct.
135 (c) The statement in option (c) is correct. Rest of the
statements are incorrect and can be corrected as
l
Lipids with molecular weight not exceeding 800 Da, come
under acid insoluble fraction.
l
The acid insoluble fraction has four types of organic
compounds, i.e. proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides
and lipids.
l
The acid soluble pool roughly represents the cytoplasmic
composition of the cell.
136 (c) The statement in option (c) is incorrect and can be
corrected as
Glycine is the simplest amino acid in which functional
group ‘R’ is replaced by hydrogen atom (H). It does not
contain sulphur.
Rest of the statements are correct.
138 (d) The statement in option (d) is incorrect and can be
corrected as
Competitive inhibitor resembles closely with the substrate
and binds to enzyme at a site, which binds to substrate. It
increases K m constant.
Rest of the statements are correct.
CHAPTER 09 > Biomolecules
140 (c) Only statement in option (c) is incorrect. In can be
corrected as
Oils have lower melting point (e.g. gingelly oil).
Rest of the statements are correct.
142 (b) Only statement IV is incorrect and can be corrected
as
Cellulose is a polymeric polysaccharide consisting of
only one type of monosaccharide, i.e. glucose.
Rest of the statements are correct.
144 (c) Statements I, II and III are correct. Statements IV and
V are incorrect and can be corrected as
l
Majority of the metabolic reactions do not occur in
isolation, they are always linked to some other reactions.
l
There are many examples of catalysed metabolic
reactions.
147 (a) Option (a) represents the correct sequence for the
steps involved in catalytic action of an enzyme. The
substrate binds to active sites of enzyme causing
conformational change to fit properly. The enzyme
breaks bonds of substrate to release the product and free
itself for another molecule of substrate.
149 (a) Statement I is true but II is false. Correct information
about statement II is as follows
Enzymes lower the activation energy of the reaction.
Lower activation energy increases the rate of reaction.
150 (a) Statement I is true, but II is false. The correct
information about statement II is as follows
A complete catalytic active enzyme with its bound
prosthetic group is called holoenzyme. An apoenzyme is
an inactive enzyme which gets activated by the binding
of an organic or inorganic cofactor.
161 (c) Xanthoproteic test is used in the quantitative analysis
of protein. Other options are
Sudan black test is used in the quantitative analysis of
fats.
Tollen’s reagent and iodine are used in the quantitative
analysis test for starch.
164 (d) Option (d) is correct as
Enzyme activity is influenced by the presence or absence
of optimum pH and temperature, substrate concentration
and the folding of their protein structure. Enzyme
activity increases in the presence of substrate whose
concentration increases initially and then reaches V max
and decreases in the absence of such substrate
concentration.
Further, enzyme activity is maximum at optimum pH and
temperature and is minimum beyond or above the
optimum value. Also, any misfolding at the primary level
may generate a malfunctioning enzyme.
165 (c) Option (c) is correct.
All living organisms and non-living matter in our
biosphere are made up of similar elements and
compounds. Several researches performed on plants,
animals and microbes confirmed that the relative
abundance of organic compound, i.e. carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen in living organisms per unit mass is more
235
than in the earth’s crust (non-living or inanimate
matter).
Whereas, the per cent composition of other inorganic
molecules like calcium and gold is more in earth’s
crust as compared to living matter.
166 (a) Silicon is not found freely in nature, but it does
occur as oxides and silicates, whereas magnesium, iron
and sodium are present in living organisms as ions.
167 (a) On homogenising any tissue in an acid, the acid
soluble pool represents cytoplasm. Homogenisation is
a process whereby a biological sample is crushed
thoroughly in a homogeniser. By this process, a
biological sample is brought to a state such that all
fractions of the sample are equal in composition.
168 (b) The most abundant chemical in living organisms is
water. It comprises of 70%-90% of the total cellular
mass.
169 (a) Glycogen is a homopolymer made up of glucose
units. It consists of glucose molecules linked together
with α (1 - 4 ) linkage with α (1 - 6 ) branch points
occurring every 8–12 residues.
170 (a) The number of ‘ends’ in a glycogen molecule
would be equal to the number of branches plus one.
This can be explained as in a glycogen there are many
branches plus one main branch on which other
branches arise.
171 (a) Fructose is a ketohexose with 6 carbons, but ketone
as functional group whereas glucose is an aldohexose
with 6-carbon and aldehyde as functional group. Thus,
both have same number of carbon.
172 (d) Glycine is the simplest amino acid containing both
an amino group and a carboxyl group.
COOH

H  C  NH2

H
Glycine
173 (d) The zwitter ionic of an amino acid is a neutral
molecule having both the cationic and anionic charges
present simultaneously on the same molecule.
174 (a) Proteins are heteropolymers made of about
Answers & Explanations
20 different kinds of monomers, i.e. amino acids.
175 (d) Proteins can sometimes function as hormone, i.e.
peptide hormones such as insulin.
176 (a) Primary structure of a protein molecule has two
ends. These two ends of a polypeptide chain are
C-terminal and the N-terminal, based on the nature of
the free group on each extremity.
177 (d) Nucleoside on phosphorylation, forms a nucleotide,
i.e. a molecule with nitrogenous base pentose sugar
and three phosphate groups. A nucleoside is made up
of cyclic nitrogenous base, purine or pyrimidine and a
pentose sugar.
178 (a) CO 2 gets dissolved in water through a reaction
which is not always catalysed by an enzyme.